Everything a California parent needs in one place — required practice hours, night-driving rules, permit age, and what the written test looks like — plus a free log that keeps the hours straight.
Requirements summarized from the official California driver handbook.
Requirements: Complete driver education and pass the written exam. Hold at least 6 months.
Restrictions: Driving only with a licensed parent, guardian, or driving instructor 25+ seated beside you. No solo driving.
Requirements: Hold the permit 6 months, complete 6 hours of professional training and 50 supervised hours (10 at night), then pass the driving test.
Restrictions: For the first 12 months: no driving 11 p.m.-5 a.m. and no passengers under 20 unless a licensed driver 25+ rides along.
Requirements: Provisional restrictions lift at age 18.
Restrictions: None specific to age.
In California you and every passenger must wear a seat belt. If a passenger under 16 is unbelted, the driver can be ticketed. Children under 8, or shorter than 4 feet 9 inches, need an approved child restraint.
California's Basic Speed Law means you may never drive faster than is safe for current conditions - traffic, road surface, weather and visibility all matter, regardless of the posted limit.
California's limit is 0.08 BAC at 21 and over, but only 0.01 for drivers under 21 - essentially zero. Driving while holding a cell phone is illegal, and texting or reading messages behind the wheel is never allowed.
Move over and slow down when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or stopped road work vehicles displaying flashing emergency or amber warning lights. Do not follow within 300 feet of an emergency vehicle when its siren or flashing lights are on.
At intersections, the first vehicle to arrive has the right-of-way; if you arrive at the same time as another road user, yield to the one on your right. Always yield to pedestrians, and give up your right-of-way when necessary to prevent a collision.
Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing, the speed limit is 25 mph, though some school zones may be as low as 15 mph; slow for yellow bus lights and stop from either direction for flashing red lights, except when the bus is opposite you on a divided or multilane highway (two or more lanes in each direction). Yield to pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalks, reduce your speed or stop so they can finish crossing, and never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
Who may accompany a provisional driver so the driver can carry passengers under 20 years old?
A provisional driver may carry passengers under 20 when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another California-licensed driver who is at least 25.
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